South Africa faces a growing crisis as political assassinations rise and concerns mount about the potential for the nation to become a mafia state. A mafia state is characterised by the erosion of governmental institutions, with the police and military becoming increasingly intertwined with organised crime, serving criminal enterprises rather than the citizens they are meant to protect.
Political Assassinations on the Rise
According to the Global Initiative on Transnational Organised Crime, political assassinations in South Africa have surged by 108% in the past decade, with at least 31 cases reported in 2023 alone. Research suggests these murders are often linked to career advancement within politics and financial interests within local governments. The recent assassination of Bouwer van Niekerk, a lawyer known for his work in rural communities of the Northern Cape, has further highlighted the vulnerability of legal professionals and the justice system in remote areas.
Police Corruption and Sabotage Allegations
The crisis is deepened by allegations of corruption and political interference within the South African Police Service (SAPS). KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged that the Special Task Force, responsible for investigating political killings, was deliberately disbanded to protect criminal networks. He accused senior officials, including the Minister of Police, of interference and sabotage, prompting the establishment of the Madlanga Commission to investigate these claims.
DA Demands Accountability for Rising Crime
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for the Justice, Correctional Services, Police, and State Security ministers to account for their departments' failure to curb the rise of crime and impunity in the country. The DA demands a combined plan to save the South African criminal justice system by the end of this month. DA Justice Spokesperson Glynnis Breytenbach cited the murder of the prime suspect in the Murray murders investigation as an example of this impunity, arguing that such incidents are not isolated.
Breytenbach stated, "Daily assassinations, a captured police service, a prosecuting authority in disarray, and the rise of a mafia state are all the byproducts of a criminal justice system in tatters." She urged the ministers to act urgently, threatening to write to the president if a tangible action plan is not presented by October 31st.
A Nation on the Brink?
Amidst rising political assassinations, collaboration between elite and crime networks, and a weakening state, the question remains: Has South Africa already become a mafia state, or is there still a chance to change course?